Decree-Law No. 46/2021 establishing principles and rules for the activity of Energy Service Companies (ESE).

This Decree-Law, consisting of 30 articles divided into six Chapters, establishes principles and rules for the activity of Energy Service Companies (ESE). In particular it: a) Creates the conditions for the development of a highly specialized ESE market that can provide its services with quality, safety and effectiveness; b) Establishes the legal regime applicable to the ESE, regulating the access and exercise of the activity; c) Defines the general guidelines that should guide the performance of energy audits, the preparation of Energy Sustainability Plans (PSE) and Energy Performance Contracts (CDE); and d) Provides for the creation of the Energy Services Management System (SIGSE). The Statute applies to all private entities that wish to provide energy services to final consumers, in particular energy efficiency services and local energy production services, based on CDE. It also applies to the final consumer of energy and signatory of a CDE, who is an individual, collective, public, private or cooperative entity.